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CSI MEDBLOGS: DEAD RUN: HOW DID MARATHONER ALEM TECHALE DIE?

Because I do not Hope to Turn Again

18 year old Alem Techale was destined for marathon stardom. An elite Ethiopian long distance runner, the young woman had already won the world youth title in the 1500m. Training with the top group of Ethiopian marathoners, Alem was preparing for what everyone believed would be a spectacular career. Last week she went for a training run with her fiancee, 22 year old Kenenisa Bekele, the Olympic gold medal and world record holder in the 5,000m and 10,000m.

During that run through the hilly forests outside Addis Ababa, Alem Techale collapsed. According to syndicated reports, Bekele rushed to Techale and scooped her up in a desperate attempt to get her help. It is said that she died in his car.

Within days Alem Techale had been eulogized and buried -- without an autopsy. Some media sources say Alem had a "heart attack." Most simply expressed the grief and sorrow all are stricken with over the loss of such a young, promising life.

Guesswork Not Allowed: How Do Young Athletes Die?

An 18 year old super athlete dies suddenly and unexpectedly, then has a quick funeral and burial. No autopsy is performed ... and the press is asking no questions. Shouldn't we investigare this ? Shouldn't we explain this staggerring loss? Doesn't everyone want to know, as best as possible, what happened, so that perhaps we can prevent it next time?

Is there more to this case, though, than just rounding up the usual suspects? Cardiac dysryhthmia...heart attack...is it just that or is there more?

There may be more. I can tell you this much: There is something wrong with this picture.

In the coming days

CSI MEDBLOGS

explores the death of Alem Techale

&

HERE'S WHAT I AM THINKING:

It is extremely unlikely that an 18 year old super athlete would just fall over dead -- Why did Alem collapse? How did she die?

Alem was treated by a well-known German physician who is famous for using alternative therapies -- Is this important to the diagnosis? Was she on medications or using any treatments?

Sudden death in young athletes was almost epidemic in the cycling community not long ago. It is strongly believed that this phenomenon is due to the use of EPO (erythropoeitin) -- the high-tech equivalent of blood doping -- Could Alem have been using EPO?

East Africans have totally dominated long distance running for years in a way that seems statistically impossible -- Are they genetically suited to be marathoners or is there another explanation?

Are Ethiopian and Kenyan marathoners folksy distance runners, honing their skills in the mountains of Africa -- Or are they actually just another subgroup of "globetrotting superstars" replete with PR and sports agents --and all the dangers that come with that lifestyle

Are our kids in danger as they participate in athletics; What preliminary tests should they have or not have -- What do you need to know? What are the warning signs? What are the danger signs? When should you act?

Comments

So you're not going to chalk this one up to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy which would seem like the most logical answer. and just because no one got an autopsy?
Let me guess? hmmmmmm.....
No, you're not going to.

So they did on autopsy on January 4th and she was buried on January 5th?

That's faster than anywhere in the world...and I thought they were BACKWARDS in Ethiopia...I guess not!

No time for much forensic evaluation, though.

Why did all the original press reports say that there was NO autopsy?

Why did the story change from Bekele crarying her to Bekele going to get his car?

What kind of car doe Bekele have out there in the hilly forrests, anyway?

Didn't he think that he was wasting time running off to get a car then driving back through the hilly forest to pick up his fiancee?

Was he worried that an animal might come by and harm her while he was running for his car?

If a world-class athlete is NOT feeling well, does she see a doctor? Does she call her agent first? Did she do either of these things? Or does she just mention it to a friend?

Did anyone give her medication for not feeling well?

What was she given for her achilles tendon?

I understand that the doctor she saw for her achilles tendon injury gives out nontraditional medications (like enzymes)for musculo-skeletal injuries. Was she given any of these??

You're dead wrong about EPO. It causes hyperviscosity of the blood which can kill you many ways but is particularly lethal if you are dehydrated, like when you've run a long way.

If they did an autopsy and DID NOT find hypertrophic cardiomyopathy OR an anomalous coronary artery, then the likelihood of her dying suddenly while running is HALVED (what's half of ininitely small?).

If you care about running, or people, or athletes, you'll ask more about this. Inquire.

I think its about time that a full scale investigation be done on east african distance runners. How many more people have to die before we end this obvious performance enhancing drug cover up. We live in a world were performance is more important than health.

Especially the Ethiopians who have become so totally dominant, with the exception to Haile Gebrasallsie, in just the last few years on both the women and mens side.

Its fairly shocking if you compare the average lifespan of an olympic gold medalist with other healthy goups. I couldn't believe how often these persons died much earlier than average lifespans.

this 'well-known German physician who is famous for using alternative therapies -- Is this important to the diagnosis? Was she on medications or using any treatments'

is Hans-Wilhelm Mueller-Wohlfahrt a famous a physician famous for his tendon/meniscus healing skills. He is visited by damaged Athletes from all over the world (and most of german football/scoccer players). And she visited him in September because of Achilles problems, not really a life threating condition.

But it is reported, that she was ill some time ago. It is also reported, that she did not visit a doctor. So maybe she started training while still sick, thus getting her heart damaged - and this damaged heart was not able to held up, when she was training with her Financee.

This is happening a lot of times. A lot of people are risking severe heart damage by doing heavy stuff while still having the flu ..

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